I have fond memories of my first “café” experiences in Zambia. Oh how cafés have moved on since then! Here’s what to expect from the café culture in Zambian coffee houses with a selection of café’s to choose from.
In my childhood home town of Monze we had one or two tea rooms which were attached to a standard bakery selling standard loaves of bread. These tea rooms usually had a less-than-rigorous approach to hygiene and dish washing! Back then we ordered tea that came with plenty of milk and lashings of sugar. Accompanying this were thick slices of bread with an equally thick layer of margarine OR jam. Bottled Fanta or Coke was the only alternative to the tea nectar.
Now I am faced with a serious level of choice, long lists of hot and cold drinks accompanied by equally long lists of sweet treats and confectionery. Café’s also serve all kinds of savoury light meals and most are open for breakfast and lunch, turning into relaxed evening entertainment venues in the evening. The atmosphere is almost always casual with seating indoors or outdoors, al fresco style. People meet here for business or leisure, all soaking up the friendly atmosphere.
Today cafés across Zambia are standalone, part of your shopping environment or an added hotel service, all remaining unique in style and experience. I’m glad to say that café chains still remain a thing of the future. Most offer internet access for a fee, some in the traditional internet café style with physical computers for hire by the minute.
So here’s our selection of café’s for you to experience:
Blue Moon CaféAn unapologetically American coffeehouse experience in Woodlands Shopping Mall.
Bread Café by Fortune FoodsFreshly bakes pastries, tarts, confectionary, cakes, cookies, pies, rolls…
Kilimanjaro CaféA warm and fashionably cluttered café and craft shop with kiddies play area and child minder.
Mezza LebaneseAuthentic Lebanese cuisine, including the ever popular Sharwarma, at three venues across Lusaka.
Milky Lane by Fortune FoodsWaffles, pancakes, ice-creams and a tasty variety of coffees in Lusaka and Ndola.
Mint CaféInspired by nature, an array of fresh healthy dishes in Arcades Shopping Mall.
Sandy’s Creations Garden Centre CaféDelight in a delicious variety of meal in this serene garden café perfect for families.
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